Fred Heinonen
Scandia Area Reporter

The Scandia City Council appointed Steve Thorp to the position of building and code enforcement official at its meeting on Tuesday, July 10.

Thorp is currently the building inspector for the city of Blaine and he provides part-time services for the city of Harris where he resides. He will be credited 10 years of service for experience including work at Brooklyn Park, Cambridge, Shakopee and St. Peter. He was chosen from a field of 13 by the Scandia Human Resources Committee, consisting of Council members Dolores Peterson, Peter Crum and City Administrator Anne Hurlburt.

The council approved a budget amendment totaling $42,423 for the rest of 2007 to cover building inspection services including salary, benefits, a new computer, and some city office network improvements. Wireless internet capability was added at an additional cost of $187.

By hiring a building and code enforcement official, the city expects to spend less than it costs to continue contracting the work. It will also provide more and better services to the city and its residents.

Mining ordinance

The planning commission conducted a public hearing on proposed Mining Ordinance 103. Letters from the Tiller Corporation, the Carnelian-Marine Watershed District and resident, John Lindell were reviewed.

City Planner Richard Thompson presented the latest of many recent drafts of the mining ordinance for review. It included language addressing mining, asphalt and cement operations, new definitions, provisions addressing surface water management, lighting, activities within setbacks, and water testing.

Many of the changes were questioned or challenged for accuracy, clarity or validity. The de-watering references must be removed because that method of mining is not allowed.

Planning commission member Peter Schwarz, asked for clarity and questioned how various effects can be verified and who is going to do the testing.

With many issues unresolved and questions unanswered, the public hearing was left open, to be continued at the next planning commission meeting Aug, 7.

Old Marine Estates

John and Sandra Swanson presented a concept plan for Old Marine Estates, a major subdivision of their 13.5-acre property at 11980 Lakamaga Trail N.

Their plan proposed three new 150-foot Big Marine Lake lots along with the existing home site, which would consist of about 370 feet of lake frontage. All the lots would have driveway access to Lakamaga Trail, but two proposed driveways are affected by wet lands.

Several alternative shared driveway configurations were discussed, but they would create flag lot situations. It was finally decided that the wetlands must be explicitly delineated to determine exactly what options are available to protect the wetlands while subdividing this property.

Church design

Commissioner, Kevin Nickelson presented pictures of 12 area churches, less than 50 years old, in order to promote discussion of new church architecture to coincide with the upcoming Willowbrook Church plans.

Nickelson said it is better to try to establish and present the city’s interpretation of rural community architecture to Willowbrook before they come forward with a costly design that may get rejected.

Building heights

Commissioner Christine Maefsky instigated a discussion about the city building heights definition because of the recent confusing discussion during consideration of the Tii Gavo development final plat.

City Administrator Hurlburt demonstrated several height measurement methods used by various cities. City Attorney Dave Hebert will bring in the new state code for review before the city considers changes to its current development code.

Next meeting

The next Scandia City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 17.

The next city council and planning commission meeting will be Tuesday, Aug 7, at 7 and 7:30 p.m., respectively.

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